The highest priority is to replace a third of the roof, at a cost of $160,000. The second is to replace the hospital’s antique phone system, which would cost $200,000. Then the hospital has some equipment needs, Stokes said, a piece of radiology equipment, at $80,000, and a bariatric bed, at a cost of $20,000. The fourth item is to have all the windows in the hospital resealed, at a cost of $50,000. That’s about $500,000 the hospital needs for improvements and to address issues.

State Rep. Rebecca Dow asked Stokes how the hospital planned to fund the needs if the Legislature can’t help.

Stokes said the hospital can borrow money, but those aren’t the only needs Gila Regional has.

“There are multiple other issues,” he said. “The replacement of our Information Systems Network, which is at its end of life.”

The price tag on that is about $680,000, he said.

“My point being, there are additional demands for cash,” he said.

“It’s almost like we need to have a legislative appropriation for rural hospitals,” Dow said. “I think every rural hospital is in a critical state. This does seem to me like a good use of one-time funds. We are in a better financial situation than most,” she said of Gila Regional.

“I want you to know how seriously we take our commitment to our community to being here when they need us,” Stokes said.